Irrigation flume outlet



Oct. 27, 1953 R. L. WOLD 2,656,682

IRRIGATION FLUMEI OUTLET Filed Dec. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.iiusselll. h Old V HTTORNEY- Oct. 27, 1953 I R. L. WOLD 2,656,632

IRRIGATION FLUME OUTLET Filed Dec. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

HTTORNE Y.

Russell .L. l fiold Patented Oct. 27, 1953 IRRIGATION FLUME OUTLETRussell L. Wold, Lihue, Kauai, Territory of Hawaii Application December15, 1952, Serial No. 326,004

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fiume for irrigation systems and, moreparticularly, to fiume outlets through which a portion of a fiume streammay be locally diverted.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a fiume outletcapable of being easily opened or closed with a manipulating stickwithout requiring the irrigator to stoop over so that, in a fiume systemhaving a series of such outlets spaced therealong, the irrigator mayopen or close outlets as he walks along, barely pausing at each outlet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fiume outlet, the partsof which are unobstrustive and integral with the fiume so that the fiumesections may be handled and stacked without loss of time due to removingseparable outlet parts.

In my prior Patents 2,527,046; 2,527,047; and 2,527,048 the fiumeoutlets there disclosed are most useful on relatively steep grades ofapproximately 4% and above, down which the velocity of the fiume streamis relatively high. The subject invention has particular utility forflat-land irrigation where the grades do not exceed 4%, but where stillit is desired to dispense a portion of the fiume water through anopening in the lower part of the fiume. Basically, the inventioncontemplates the provision of an outlet opening in the lower part of thefiume,

and a rubber tab slightly larger than the opening and having one edgesecured to the fiume on the upstream side of the opening. When the tablies above the opening it prevents water from flowing out, but when thefree end of the tab is forced downwardly through the opening, there itwill stay so as to funnel water out through the opening. A furtherobject, in the above organization of elements, is to provide an upwardlyarched bump in the fiume bottom on the downstream side of the outletopening so that the latter acts as a scoop, when the flap is pusheddownwardly through the opening, for shaving off a definite portion ofthe passing fiume stream and directing it downwardly through the outletopening.

Yet another object is the provision of a fiume having controllableoutlets which can be opened or closed with relatively untrained labor,and

which can be inexpensively embodied in exist-' ing fiume types withoutappreciable revision of the manners of handling or laying out thefiumes.

These and other objects will be apparent in the following specificationand drawings, in which:

Figs. 1, 2 and 8 are a diagrammatic sections illustrating the fiumeoutlets in the three characteristic phases of operation;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fiume embodying the outlet, with the outletclosed;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 2 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an sometric view of a fiume with the flap open; and

Fig. 7 shows the fiume when coupled by its top flange, to form a tubularpipe.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denotesimilar elements, a typical fiume 2 formed of sheet metal is providedwith an opening 4 through its bottom. An upstanding half blister 6 isbumped in the fiume bottom adjacent one edge of opening 4 so that whenthe fiume is arranged with the half-blister on the downstream side ofthe opening, a portion of the fiume stream is shaved off and diverteddownwardly and outwardly through the opening.

Cemented on the inside of the fiume bottom adjacent the upstream side 8of opening 4 is one end of a rubber tab ill, of sufficiently largeextent to slightly overlap all edges of the opening and with its freeend 13 overlying the top of blister 6 when the tab is in the closedposition illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Tab I0, while it is largerthan opening 4, is suificiently resilient and deformable so that itsfree end l3 may be jammed downwardly through opening 4 to its openposition and will remain so disposed due to the jamming of its sideagainst the sides of opening 4.

Tab [0 may be moved to its open or closed positions by a manipulatingtool l4 having a hooked end It. Referring to Fig. 1, the tab In is shownafter its free end 13 has been pushed through opening 4 so that waterwill be diverted outwardly. Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in whichmanipulating tool 14 may be thrust downwardly through opening 4 so as toengage the free end I3 with hooked end 16. Then, by lifting upwardly ontool [4, tab l0 may be pulled back upwardly through opening 4 and, afterhooked end I6 is disengaged, tab l0 flattens out against the bottom offiume 2 as shown in Fig. 3 so as to close the opening 4.

It will be apparent from the drawings that neither half blister 6 nortab I0 will interfere with the nesting of fiume sections, one inside theother. In operation, when the tab I0 is closed. there are no sharpsurfaces on which trash may catch, and the weight of the water on thetop ot the tab tends to seal it against the inner surfaces of the flumeso that there is practically no leakage.

The invention described above is not limited to the details illustrated,but is intended to cover all substitutions, modifications andequivalents within the scope of the following claim:

I claim:

1. In combination, an elongate flume havin an opening through a lowerportion thereof and a tab having one side thereof secured to said flumeadjacent one side of said opening, said tab being larger than saidopening and being adapted to lie substantially flat against the bottomof the fiume so as to close said opening, and being of flexible materialwhereby a portion of said tab may be pushed through said opening so asto permit flume water to divert therethrough.

2. In combination, an elongate flume having an opening through a lowerportion thereof, and a tab having one marginal edge portion thereofsecured to said home adjacent one side of said opening, the remainingportion .of said tab bein free or said flame, said tab being larger thansaid opening with said remaining mar inal ed e hontions thereof normallyoverlappin the edges of said opening whereby said tab normally closessaid openin said tab being of flexible material whereby the freeportions thereof may be pushed throu h said opening to permit .flumeWater to divert therethrmilgh 3- .In combinations-1.1 elon ate dome hain n openin through a lower portion th reof. said ooonhis hav n oppos teends spas d .from one another lon itud nally along stant ally fla ta havn one roar d e po tion th r of se ur d n fa e enga ement against saidlime adja en ne of said ends of said openns, sa d t b being larg r areathan sa d openns and havin all oth r marginal edge portion the eof ovepp n sa d fiume adjacent corresponding edges of said opening whereby tocons itu e a elosure f r aid op nin said t o being .of flexible materialwhereby a major portion thereof may be rced thr ugh s id openin so as topermit home water to divert therein-mush.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, and an inwardly extendingprotuberance .on the inside 4 of said flume adjacent the opposite end ofsaid opening.

5. In combination, an elongate fiume having an opening through thebottom thereof, said opening having opposite ends spaced from oneanother longitudinally along said flume, a substantially fiat tab havingone marginal edge portion thereof affixed in face engagement against theinner side of said flume adjacent one of said ends of said opening, theremainder of said tab being free of fixed securement to said fiume, saidtab being larger in area than said opening and having all other marginaledge portions thereof overlap- Pin said flume adjacent correspondingedges of said opening whereby to constitute a closure for said opening,said tab being or flexible material whereby the free portions thereofmay be pushed through said opening so as to permit fiume water to diverttherethrough.

.6. The combination claime in claim 5, said flume having a portionthereof at the other end of s id opening inwardly and transverselyarched whereby to divert downwardly flume water flowing gainst s idother end of said opening.

7.. In combination, a trough-shaped sheetmetal .flume adapted toaccommodate a stream of water flowin ther in from one end to the other,said flmne having an opening throu h the bottom ther of, said openinghaving upstream and downstream. ends with respect to said stream ofwater. and a flexible flat rubber tab of somewhat larger extent han sa dopening and normal y overlyin the some so as t f rm a clos re ther ior,said tab havi g one m rginal edge portion aflixed natwiso aga nst t enner sid o the home bottom, th th r portions of sa d tab eing free ofsaid flume whereby said free portions may be jammed downwardly throughsaid flume t .form a diversionary trough.

8. The combination claimed in claim '7, the material of said mine at andimmediately below the downstream .end of said opening being'bentupwardly and inwardly to form a half blister so as to divert a portionof said fiume stream downwardly through said opening.

No references cited.

